Movable Guide Tooth Rack Engagement for Logistics Gears

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Solution Overview

Problem

Logistics vehicles face failures in axial guiding of gears into racks due to gear abutment against the rack sides during horizontal-to-vertical motion transitions, leading to system inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A toothed portions engagement adaptation mechanism with movable guide teeth, including a first and second guide tooth, where the second guide tooth moves or swings relative to the rack to facilitate smooth gear engagement by overcoming alignment issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed guide tooth structure is used, then the structure is simple, but the gear cannot be guided into the rack at all angles due to axial obstruction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegear engagement angle adaptabilityVSAvoidguide tooth structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide tooth is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position during gear engagement. The guide tooth can move along the rack in the axial direction, enabling the system to adapt to gears approaching at different angles while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guide tooth structure is divided into movable and stationary parts, with the guide tooth itself being movable and the mounting structure being stationary. This segmentation allows the guide tooth to independently adjust its position to accommodate various engagement angles without complicating the entire mounting system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the second guide tooth is made movable to facilitate gear engagement, then gear engagement succeeds at all angles, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegear engagement reliabilityVSAvoidmounting member structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second guide tooth is made movable through the mounting member, allowing it to shift position during gear engagement. This dynamic capability ensures reliable engagement at all angles by enabling the guide tooth to accommodate misalignment, while the mounting member provides a straightforward implementation of this movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If guide teeth are added to enable angular adaptation, then gear engagement is facilitated, but the number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegear guiding easeVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting member combines multiple functions: it mounts the second guide tooth, provides the movement mechanism, and integrates with the rack structure. By merging these functions into a single component, the design adds the necessary guide teeth for angular adaptation while minimizing the increase in overall component count.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4122846B1Engagement fitting mechanism and logistics system
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 BEIJING JINGDONG QIANSHITECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4122846B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4122846B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4122846B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an engagement adaptation mechanism and a logistics system. The engagement adaptation mechanism includes: a rack including a first side and a second side arranged opposite to each other; a first guide tooth provided on the first side; a second guide tooth movably provided on the first side, the second guide tooth being farther than the first guide tooth from the second side; and a gear configured to partially engage the rack from the first side, and move towards the second side so as to completely engage the rack, wherein at least one of the first guide tooth and the second guide tooth is configured to engage the gear during the movement of the gear from the first side toward the second side. In the present disclosure, the first guide tooth and the second guide tooth cooperate with each other to alleviate various disadvantage factors for guiding the gear into the rack and facilitate successful guiding of the gear into the rack at all angles.